16-bit PIC® MCUs

START is an innovative online tool for intuitive, graphical configuration of embedded software projects. It lets you select and configure software components, drivers and middleware, as well as complete example projects, specifically tailored to the needs of your application. The configuration stage lets you review dependencies between software components, conflicts and hardware constraints. In the case of a conflict, START will automatically suggest solutions that fit you specific setup.

With graphical pin-mux and clock configuration, you can easily match your software and drivers with your own HW layout. The tool also provides automated assistance for retargeting projects and applications for different devices. Getting that sample code to run on your board has never been easier.

START is an online tool; no installation is required. When you are done with your configuration, you can download it for use together with your prefered integrated development environment (IDE), including Studio, Keil or IAR, and continue development. If you later need to change the configuration you can load it in START, reconfigure and continue where you left off.

START is based on the latest generation of the Software Framework, ASFv4. The driver layer in ASFv4 has been rearchitected for better performance and reduced code size. Care has been taken to make sure that code generated by START is readable, as well as easy to navigate and extend. Please refer to the user guide to learn more about whats new in ASFv4.

The Digital Compensator Design Tool (DCDT) helps power supply designers by simplifying the overall process of determining the digital compensator coefficients and analyzing the control system performance. The DCDT incorporates all feedback gains and delays to provide the most accurate model of the control system. Along with analyzing the closed loop performance via Bode Plots, the user can verify stability by using the DCDT’s root locus and Nyquist plots. Once the desired performance is obtained the DCDT will automatically calculate the compensator coefficients and scaling parameters and generate software files to be used with the free SMPS Control Software Libraries.

The DCDT is topology independent which allows the most sophisticated converters to be analyzed. With a topology independent architecture, the tool requires a mathematical expression of the plant transfer function. This can be entered as a polynomial equation or in pole/zero form (up to 5th order systems). The tool also supports a data import option where the plant transfer function is a table of phase/gain vs. frequency data points that can be generated from a simulation environment or even from a network analyzer.

The DCDT currently allows users to develop voltage mode control and peak current mode control applications with support for average current mode control to be available shortly. Depending on the control scheme, different compensators may be required. The DCDT supports many different compensator types such as the digital 3-pole/ 3-zero (3P3Z), digital 2P2Z, digital PID, and analog type II/III. The analog type II/III compensators allow analog designers to input their existing analog compensator designs into the tool either by passive R/C components or by entering pole/zero frequency points. The tool will then generate the equivalent digital compensator streamlining the transition from analog to digital compensator design.

All MPLAB® X IDE. plug-ins, including this Digital Compensator Design Tool, are free, available and ready to install once the MPLAB® X IDE has been installed. Just follow the simple steps in the getting started tab to see all the available plug-ins and to install the DCDT.

Microchip’s line of award-winning MPLAB® XC C Compilers provides a comprehensive solution for your project’s software development and is offered in free, unrestricted-use downloads. These compilers integrate into Microchip's MPLAB® X IDE, are compatible with all Microchip debuggers and emulators, and run on Windows, Linux and Mac OS X.Finding the right compiler to support your device is simple:

MPLAB XC8 supports all 8-bit PIC MCUs

MPLAB XC16 supports all 16-bit PIC MCUs and dsPICs

MPLAB XC32/32++ supports all 32-bit PIC MCUs

The MPLAB XC Network Server License is a shared license. It allows one person to compile at a time. Once used, the license remains captured by that person for 60 minutes, during which no one else can use it. If that person compiles again, the 60 minutes starts over.

The license is not compatible with virtual machines unless combined with an MPLAB Virtual Machine License for Network Licenses, SW006021-VM.

The MPLAB XC PRO Network Server Licenses also come with 12 months of High Priority Access (HPA) - a maintenance subscription providing web access to new compiler versions, priority technical support for the compiler and free shipping on all development tool orders on Microchip Direct.

Site License
MPLAB® XC Compilers produce highly optimized code. Site licenses are available in the PRO edition, which has the most features and produces the best code optimization of any of Microchip's compilers. The site license is installed on a network and can be quoted for seats of five and greater, which can be mixed between any of the compilers: MPLAB XC8, MPLAB XC16 and MPLAB XC32. Site licenses can only be ordered for the PRO edition. Please contact a local sales office for more information and a quote: Global Sales

Intended to have one user per seat and installed on a network

Restricted to the number of seats purchased

Allows the administrator to add and remove users as needed by tying the licensed users by their host IDs.

Allows for volume pricing

Has a loan-out feature, so the license can be used like a node locked license for a specific amount of time (one month maximum on loan out)

The MPLAB® XC16 C Compiler is a full-featured, highly-optimized ANSI C compiler for all 16-bit PIC Microcontroller families. This compiler integrates into Microchip’s MPLAB X IDE, is compatible with all Microchip debuggers and emulators, and runs on Windows®, Linux® and macOS®.
The MPLAB XC16 PRO Compiler Dongle License unlocks the full potential and performance of all possible optimizations with the advantage of being interchangeable among workstations and highly portable – not tied to a PC or workstation. Some of its features include:

License file is installed on a USB device

Intended for multiple users and mobile use – plug into the workstation’s USB and go

Includes unlimited updates to new compiler versions without the need for HPA (perpetual license)

MPLAB® XC Compilers produce highly optimized code. Subscription licenses unlock PRO-level optimizations, which produce the best execution speed and code size for all PIC® microcontrollers (MCUs) and dsPIC® Digital Signal Controllers (DSCs) along with the best in compiler features.

The MPLAB XC16 PRO Subscription License is charged on a monthly basis, providing 16-bit designers the ability to make use of the most features and best code optimization only when needed in the design cycle. Subscribers will also have the ability to use any version MPLAB XC16 Microchip compiler at any time, without the need for an active Microchip MPLAB XC High Priority Access (HPA) maintenance subscription. Unlike most software subscription solutions, the license is not cloud-based, providing designers the additional flexibility of using the license offline.

The subscription license is available as a download only, installed on a workstation and the license will be renewed every month by through internet connection.

This is a monthly subscription license and cannot be purchased in advance by buying multiples at one time (i.e. buying 12 licenses does not equal one year). Buying multiples at one time will result in multiple licenses being active every month.

For complete information, including downloads and full documentation for MPLAB XC C compilers, go to: microchip.com/mplabxc

This PRO Plugin for MPLAB® X IDE works with the MPLAB® REAL ICE™ In-Circuit Emulator to display the percentage of time spent in each application function, enhancing the software debugging capabilities of MPLAB® X IDE. It is used to measure the percentage of time spent in each function in order to determine where your application may be spending the greatest portion of time over an average collected set of data. It adds pre- and post-amble code to all functions in debug sessions. It aids in debugging and code optimization by tracking the number of function calls, parent functions, child functions and execution time. Each license is intended for one user. Available for device families with data capture, namely: PIC18F, PIC24F, PIC24EP, dsPIC33FJ, dsPIC33E, and those PIC32MX that support data capture. To find out if your device has data capture, please see the Dev Tool Selector.

Installation instructions:

Unzip the downloaded ZIP file to two .nbm files on your hard drive.

Select Tools > Plugins from the IDE menu.

Select the Downloaded tab in the Plugins window.

Click the Add Plugins button to add the two .nbm files, one by one.

Make sure the Install checkboxes for both Code Profiling and Plugin Update Services plugins are checked.

Click the Install button and follow the instructions to finish installation.

This plugin operates with MPLAB X IDE v2.26 and MPLAB XC compiler v1.20 and later. To download a 30-day trial version go to Embedded Code Source.

Note: The use of this plugin requires an MPLAB® REAL ICE™ In-Circuit Emulator. Standard (ICSP) or Performance Pak (High Speed LVDS) connection from emulator to target board is required. No other connections are needed.

The MPLAB X IDE Plugin - Halt Notifier provides an alert when a target is halted. These notifications can be customized with actions—such as issuing an audio alert, sending an email, or running a script.
This plugin is useful for debugging code in an efficient manner. Set the plugin, tend to other tasks and the plugin will send an alert when the debugging has halted (for example, a breakpoint).

From a script you can establish a text message to your cell phone, Yowsup, WhatsApp, tweet or run anything that collects data and archives it. Scripting gives you infinite possibilities.

The MPLAB XC16 C Compiler is a full-featured, highly-optimized ANSI C compiler for the PIC24 and dsPIC Microcontroller families. This compiler integrates into Microchips MPLAB(R) X IDE, is compatible with all Microchip debuggers and emulators, and runs on Windows, Linux and Mac OS X.The MPLAB XC16 PRO Workstation license unlocks the full potential and performance of all possible optimizations.

The MPLAB XC16 compiler also comes with 12 months of High Priority Access, a maintenance subscription, providing web access to new version releases, priority technical support for the compiler and free shipping for development tool orders on Microchip Direct.

The Microchip WMA Decoder can decode audio signals sampled at up to 48 kHz with up to two discrete channels. The WMA Decoder also supports VBR and CBR encoded audio stream. In most circumstances, .wma files are contained in Advance Systems Format (ASF), which is supported by the WMA Decoder. Microchip technology provides software libraries allowing customers to build audio applications with high quality and professional results. The WMA Decoder library is optimized (C/ASM) and is available for all PIC32MX devices. Supported in MPLAB Harmony v2 only.